In the ever-changing digital environment we all find ourselves in today, it’s so easy to forget how lucky we are to be living in such a fast-paced period in history, where new technologies are emerging on an almost daily basis whilst current technologies seem to be ever-changing, with new iterations coming year on year.
Today, we’re going to look at the Future of Technology in a number of different areas before they pass us by:
Augmented Reality
In the past couple of years, it’s been clear to see that in the battle between AR and VR, Augmented Reality will be the dominant technology for the future, on a general level anyway.
Augmented Reality first burst into the global mainstream following the hugely successful launch of the Pokemon Go mobile game in the Summer of 2016. The innovative (and extremely addictive) title imported classic Pokemon characters to the real world and all the while inadvertently exposed the masses to a technology that was expected to have a major impact on the world.
Facebook recently revealed their plans for AR with an innovative wristband, that reads neural signals to detect finger movements that can be used to interact with a to be confirmed AR SmartGlass. The accuracy of a technology like this could make smartphones and keyboards almost obsolete and is a very interesting prospect for the future.
However, it still remains to be seen whether this proposed AR takeover will really take off, as we’ve seen in the past through Facebook’s regretful Oculus acquisition and Google’s disastrous Glasses launch at the turn of the 2010s.
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency seems like it has been a “new” technology now for over 10 years but the sheer economy-altering ability it has to disruptive a centuries old staple, one can be forgiven for continuing to give it a fresh title.
Whilst Crypto has well and truly entered the mainstream through Bitcoin and its massive growth and volatility, most people know it as a profit generating mechanism rather than it’s true meaning as a decentralised form of payment.
Whilst outlets that actively accept cryto are too few and far between, it’s potential has been raised again in the mainstream by the emergence of NFTs and many analysts predict that the next few years will be telling for these currencies, for better or for worse.
Motor Transportation
When Google first unveiled plans for their self driving cars at the turn of the last decade, millions of people were blown away by this technology and intrigued by their bold prediction that these would be commonplace by the end of the 2010s.
Whilst not commonplace in any form, mainly due to government setbacks and a number of isolated incidents denting public opinion, today manufacturers such as Tesla have some self-driving technologies implemented into their vehicles and Google, now operating their self driving wing under Waymo, have fast tracked their development after raising significant investment in 2020.
Whilst we would expect companies such as Tesla and Google to be at the forefront of such an emerging technology, we’ve also seen some traditional car manufacturers put significant investment behind developing their own technology such as General Motors’ Cruise vehicle and Volvo agreeing a partnership of their own with Waymo. Even brand such as Dominos have been experimenting with their own driverless vehicles.
Once the need for a driver is removed is out of the way, Tesla CEO Elon Musk also has plans to alleviate traffic with his venture, “The Boring Company” currently digging huge holes under the Las Vegas metropolitan area with aims to create a sequenced, automated transportation system using electric, driverless cars. One can only assume which car manufacturer he plans to utilise.
Neurotechnology
As mentioned above, Facebook recently revealed plans for an Augmented Reality wristband. Whilst interesting in its relation to AR, what truly is fascinating is its ability to detect motor neuron signals and apply decision making to its software.
This “Neurotechnology” (technology related to the brain) has been quickly growing in interest, with sheer awe at its potential but also a huge level of skepticism, fuelled by bogus conspiracy theories about Hollywood elitists installing microchips on the brain.
Perhaps the interesting initiative at the moment in this space has to be “Neuralink”, which is being run and backed by the previously mentioned professional hole digger and real life Tony Stark, Elon Musk.
Neuralink’s proposed flagship device is surgically installed and attached to the human brain through a keyhole procedure behind the ear. Once installed, it remains here (permanently) and will be used for various uses ranging from gaming and socialising to potentially detecting disease or ailment and it has been, thus far, successfully installed into pigs.
As we can see from the above, the future of technology and the digital era is both extremely exciting and daunting in equal measure. What we can be certain of though, is that if you blink, you very well could miss it.
You too can get involved in the discussion by reaching out to us on our socials here
